Draft
German Twisted Cast On
A long tail cast on with an extra twist for a sturdier, longer lasting edge.
5 min videoGood for sock cuffs, hat brims
The German twisted cast on, also called the twisted German, the Old Norwegian or the Norwegian cast on, is the long tail with an extra twist in each stitch.
The twist makes a row of small knots along the bottom. The edge is sturdy and durable without losing much of its elasticity. It has the same moderate stretch as a long tail, only stronger.
Use it on anything that has to last: sweater hems, sleeve cuffs, the brim of a hat. Like the long tail, it makes a row of knit stitches as you go, so purl the first row to make the edge look its best.
1 Set up like a long tail
Measure out your tail as for a regular long tail cast on. Twist the first stitch around the needle and get into the slingshot position, tail over your thumb and working yarn over your forefinger.
2 Go under both thumb strands
Instead of picking up the outside strand on your thumb, bring the needle under both thumb strands together. Then come back up through the top of the thumb loop, the opposite direction from a normal long tail. The yarn is now twisted around the needle.
3 Catch the strand on your finger
Bring the needle over the top, over the strand in the center, and go through the loop on your index finger to grab that first strand.
4 Bring it through the twisted loop
Here is the tricky part. The thumb loop is twisted, so pull your thumb back to open it up. You will see a little X with a triangle in it. Bring the strand down through that triangle and around the outside.
5 Release the thumb and tighten
Let the loop off your thumb and tighten the stitch down as you would for any long tail.
6 Then keep going
Under both, back through the center of the thumb loop, over and around through the loop on your finger, back through the little triangle, release and tighten. If the twist gets in your way, you can let go of the yarn and untwist it before coming back through. Purl the first row on the other side so the edge looks its best.